Myreon Jones leads offensive-minded Florida past Ole Miss

Myreon Jones led five scorers in double figures with 15 points to lead Florida to a 79-64 win over Ole Miss on Wednesday in Gainesville, Fla.

The Gators (14-12, 7-6 SEC) snapped a three-game losing streak despite playing most of the second half without leading scorer Colin Castleton, who left the game with a right hand injury and did not return. Castleton had 3 points in 22 minutes.

Kowacie Reeves and Will Richard added 13 points apiece for the Gators. Riley Kugel had 12 points and Kyle Lofton had 10 points and 7 assists.

Jones went 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and as a team Florida has a strong game from the perimeter, shooting 59.2 percent from the field and 58.8 percent (10-17) from 3-point range.

Matthew Murrell led Ole Miss (10-16, 2-11 SEC) with 15 points with Jaemyn Brakefield adding 14 points. The Rebels have dropped 12 of their last 14 games and struggled from the floor, shooting just 39.7 percent from the field and 25 percent (3-12) from 3-point range.

Up 51-45, Florida created separation with an 11-1 run and led by as many 18 points in the second half.

Richard scored 9 points and Reeves added 8 points in the first half, helping the Gators jump to a 39-29 halftime lead. Florida shot 66.7 percent from the field in the first half and 62.5 percent (5-8) from 3-point range.

Florida jumped to an early 15-9 lead after a 3-pointer from Reeves. But Ole Miss responded with a 10-0 run, taking a 19-15 lead on a Murrell 3-pointer.

The Gators regained the lead, 24-22, on a Richard 3-pointer and held it for the rest of the half.

After a Murrell 3-pointer cut Florida's lead to 28-27 with 3:52 left in the first half, Florida closed the half with an 11-2 run. A Reeves 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock put Florida up 35-29 with 1:41 left. Lofton followed with a driving layup, then Alex Fudge was fouled in transition and made two free throws with 6 seconds left in the half to put the Gators up 39-29 at halftime.